Despite the absence of the usual villi or bristles on the surface of the plant, the hymnocalicium mix belongs to the Cactus family. A native of Latin America got its name, which is translated from Latin as "bare cup" due to its unusual appearance.
Bloom
With good care, the hymnocalicium blooms already in the 3rd year. The plant gives buds in spring and is fragrant almost until November. With the advent of bell-shaped funnel-shaped flowers, the cactus is transformed, becoming original and unsurpassed.
Tropical charm
Flowering begins with the appearance at the top of the tubules, covered with smooth scales. A large number of petals are formed there, collected in a bud, the average diameter of which is 5 cm. The length of the petals varies from 3 to 10 cm (depending on the species).
Each flower gives dark green fruits with a length of about 3 cm and a diameter of 1.5 to 5 cm. They have a spindle-shaped or oval shape. Inside contain spherical small seeds.
Gymnocalycium has blossomed
Types and varieties of hymnocalicium
In nature, there is a wide variety of these plants, all of them stand out with their original flower shapes. Common signs allow you to not confuse the cactus hymnocalicium with any other member of the family:
- the roots of most species are fibrous, but they are also similar to bulbs;
- the stem is a rounded or ploskosharovidny form with a smooth surface;
- thorns are collected in groups and are located on the cactus by islands, outwardly resembling a spider, spreading towards the paws;
- flowers are formed on the top of the plant and are elongated scaly tubules.
If a cactus ball appears in the house, immediately determining which species it is will not be easy until the plant blooms. They already look at the shape of the flower, its color, sometimes they count the number of buds.
Types of cactus gymnocalycium
| Name | Description |
| Gimnokalitsium Mikhanovich | In mihanovichii gymnocalycium, the greenish-gray stem is significantly flattened, which makes the plant barely reach a height of 5 cm. The peculiar shape of the ribs is characteristic of the species (there are 8-10 of them): · The edge is wavy, pointed; · In section are triangles; · At the edges there are a number of areoles, from which pointed transverse protrusions extend. In each areola, there are 5 gray spines curved towards the stem. Between the thorns at the top of the ball, the plant throws beautiful pinkish-green flowers. There are also varieties with other shades: white, pure pink and yellow. |
| Gymnocalycium Reductum | A large cactus is often called humpback because of its elongated shape. Young plants - rounded pretty gray-green balls with a bluish tint. In adulthood, a cactus is able to reach a height of 0.5 m. Releases long straight, solid thorns from areoles. During the flowering period, it is decorated with beautiful cream buds. |
| Baldianum Gymnocalicium | Gymnocalycium baldianum looks like a flat ball of gray-green color, reaching a diameter of 7-9 cm. Formed from 9-11 ribs, with age acquiring a clear tuberosity. Areas contain only radial spines (5-7 each) of various shades: from gray with a pink rose to ashen. At Bald Gimnocalycium, multiple flowers up to 5 cm in diameter can be white, orange, pink, but dark red is more common. Appear at an early age. |
| Horst Gymnocalycium | Small processes can sometimes appear on a spherical stem with a diameter of 10 cm. The cactus itself is divided into 5 flat ribs. Each segment contains 3-4 round areoles containing 5 lateral spines elevated above the body of the plant. From young areoles grow long (up to 11 cm) pale pink or white flowers framed by the same scales. |
| Bruchii gymnocalycium | Bruch is characterized by branching of the trunk. Multiple small processes appear on a rounded column 6 cm high and 5 cm in diameter. The lateral spines are soft, light. In some individuals, a straight central needle sometimes grows. Gentle pink flowers with yellowish anthers bloom on each process. |
| Quehlianum gymnocalycium | The Kwel cactus is characterized by a greenish-blue color of a spherical stem with a diameter of about 10 cm. It consists of 10 roundish tuberous ribs, tightly pressed against each other. There are no central spines, radial, ivory, collected at the base in a reddish edge. There are varieties with white, yellow, red-brown spines. It blooms with beautiful large two-tone buds. The red pharynx of the flower is framed by white curved petals. |
| Frederick Gymnocalycium | Cactus friedrichii gymnocalycium is the result of Japanese selection. The main feature of the species is the absence of chlorophyll in the tissues. Therefore, the trunk is painted in various warm shades (yellow, orange, red, burgundy), but not green. Buds gives lilac or pink. On a spherical ribbed cactus, small curved brown spines grow. The hybrid, as an independent plant, does not take root - the cactus needs vaccination. |
| Amerhauseri gymnocalycium | A ball with a diameter of 5-6 cm is very flattened and barely reaches a height of 2.5 cm. A thick glossy green epidermis of the trunk casts a gray or bluish tint. The trunk is assembled from 8 tuberous, indistinct ribs. Oval areoles covered with yellowish hair are formed on them, which grow bald with age. Radial slightly bent spines 6-12 mm long are located star-shaped. They have a double color: at the base - dark red, at the top - white. In adults, there is also a central spine, significantly rising above the radial. Its length is 1.2-1.5 cm. The plant pleases the eye with funnel-shaped small flowers from creamy white to pink. The greenish scales are framed by a light pink border. The neckline shades red. |
| Cardenasianum gymnocalycium | It is also called spherical-columnar. Outwardly, it resembles a rounded column 20 cm high. It is densely pubescent with numerous long spines, most of which are inclined to the stem. On the top of the head, low (up to 5 cm) whitish-pink flowers bloom barely through the thorns. |
| Gymnocalycium denudatum | In the naked hymnocalycium, the dark green glossy stem is very flattened. An irregularly shaped sphere consists of rounded edges. Their number ranges from 5 to 8. The average diameter of the cactus itself is 10 cm. In radial "spiders" of 5-8 paws-thorns with a length of a little more than 10 mm. They are sinuous, gray-brown in color and tightly pressed to the cactus. Blooms in large white or light pink single buds. |
Cactus Mikhanovich
Gymnocalycium called mix is a whole group of cacti, distinguished by their miniature size. They differ in shape, color of the stem and flowers. From such cacti, you can create unusual compositions, growing in one pot.
Japanese grafted
Home Care
Spherical exotics easily take root, grow quickly and bloom early. Despite the unpretentiousness to the growing conditions, it is necessary to properly provide mixed care at home with hymnocalycium. Only following the rules of agricultural technology will allow cacti to develop comfortably.
Soil and top dressing
Tropical plants need loose, low pH soil. In order not to make mistakes with the preparation of the substrate, it is recommended to buy a ready-made mixture designed specifically for cacti.
Important! Soils saturated with limestone will significantly slow down the development of cactus.
The same applies to top dressing. In flower shops there are always fertilizers that are most suitable for the hymnocalycium. You need to use them in the spring-summer period, bringing under the plant 1 time in 2-3 weeks.
Lighting and temperature
Cacti love to "swim" in the sunlight. Therefore, it is necessary to provide good lighting throughout the year (even in winter). But in the hot summer, the window will still have to be shaded, protecting the plant from direct rays.
Gymnocaliciums do not like heat - cacti need a moderate temperature. During the rest period, it is important to maintain the parameter within + 15-18 ° С. Although the plant feels fine at + 5-10 degrees.
Humidity and watering
Comfortable to cacti in low humidity. Therefore, they do not need spray irrigation. Watering is also carried out sparingly, trying not to flood the soil.
In the process, warm, settled water (preferably soft) is used. From the fall, watering is gradually reduced and rarely carried out in winter, with a small amount of liquid.
Transfer
Transshipment of young plants is performed every year in early spring. This stimulates the cactus for active development. In this case, the new pot should be slightly larger than the previous one.
Transfer to a new container
Note! An adult flower does not need frequent transplantation, it is carried out as necessary, when the roots begin to protrude over the earthen substrate.
The second reason for which an unplanned transplant is required is rotting of the roots, provoked by waterlogging of the soil. If the plant has become sluggish, it should be removed from the pot, rinse the roots and remove the decayed areas. After drying, the cactus is placed on a new substrate for rooting.
Breeding options
It is not difficult to breed a hymnocalicium at home. The method of reproduction depends on the variety of cactus.
Scions
Some species give babies. After flowering, they are separated from the mother plant, simply by turning the layers around the axis. Further adhere to such an algorithm:
- the baby is kept on the table for several days so that the cut is dry;
- taking a small pot (or a plastic cup) with a drainage layer and a substrate, layering is simply laid on top of the ground;
- the soil around the baby is moistened.
Care for the transplanted layering should be like an adult plant.
Cactus with kids
Note! If you did not plan to propagate a cactus in this way, then during the transplantation of the plant, the children will still have to be removed from the mother's stem and settled in separate containers.
Seeds
In those species that do not give layering, the only option for reproduction is seed. Although flower growers prefer this method for cacti with children. In this case, the young plants are healthy and strong.
When reproducing adhere to such recommendations:
- the soil mixture is taken standard for cacti, but a smaller fraction;
- seeds are pre-disinfected with steam or calcined in the oven;
- sown in small containers, not buried in the ground;
- make sure that the soil is always moist (it is recommended to cover the container with a film);
- watered through a pan or sprayed soil from a spray gun;
- in the room they maintain a temperature of + 20 ° C and provide good lighting.
Seed propagation
You can sow cacti at any time of the year. With proper care, seedlings will appear quickly and begin to actively develop. After 12 months, they can be planted in permanent pots.
